Spring Practice SOPHOMORE OL JAKE FISHER READY TO STEP INTO A STARTING ROLE IN 2012

When you look at him, he’s a towering figure, in and out of his Oregon football uniform. Sophomore offensive lineman Jake Fisher stands 6’6 and weighs 279 pounds and by most standards is one of the largest O’lineman in the Pac-12. He’s strong and physical which is why coach Chip Kelly said Fisher found his way into the lineup as a true freshman in 2011.

Albeit sparingly, Fisher still saw playing time as an 18 year old teenager right out of high school. A pretty impressive feat considering the pace at which Oregon’s offense runs and the knowledge an offensive lineman must have to play in Kelly’s multi-dimensional offense. Now a year later, Fisher say’s he doesn’t want to simply play sparingly, he’s working hard for a starting role and considering his work ethic that goal may not be out of reach. “I’m not going to sit the bench and ride” said Fisher after Tuesday’s spring scrimmage. “That’s just my role and that’s what I’m going to do is work my ass off and keep going.”

Confidence certainly doesn’t lack in the Fisher bloodline. In fact, it was in the LSU game in Cowboys Stadium to begin the 2011 season that Fisher saw his very first action as a college football player. A game of that magnitude on a huge national stage would’ve forced most true freshman to pray to the porcelin gods, but not Fisher. “I gotta give it to my father” say’s Fisher. “He bred me well. He kept me working since I was a little kid. I was always around the team,..always around football so I kind of just developed that mentality being on the coaching side with him, and as a player developed that over time.”

Originally from Traverse City, Michigan, Fisher told reporters he first committed to play college football with the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, but changed his mind when former Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez was fired. When asked if he would have gone to Michigan if a coaching change hadn’t of occured, Fisher smiled and said “you never know,…I’m here and I’m happy here.” Of course, now Fisher has a chance to face off against Rodriguez when the Ducks play Arizona later this fall. Which certainly begged the question, if he was looking forward to facing Rodriguez when the two teams meet on September 22nd in Autzen Stadium. Fisher laughed and simply said “we’ll see.”
If college football and the NFL doesn’t work out for Fisher, politics just might.